Packers claim Chris Harper off waivers from 49ers

If you’re going to get fired by a pair of teams and play for a third in the first two months of your pro career, you could do a lot worse than following the Chris Harper plan.

According to Bill Williamson of ESPN.com, the rookie wide receiver was claimed off waivers by the Packers today.

That gives the Packers some reinforcement at a thin position, with Randall Cobb and James Jones injured (Jones is questionable, Cobb’s on injured reserve/designated for return). They were down to three healthy wideouts before Harper’s addition: Jordy Nelson, Jarrett Boykin and Myles White.

For Harper, it keeps him playing for good teams. He was a fourth-round pick of the Seahawks before being released in final cuts and claimed by the 49ers. But he was inactive for all six games with San Francisco.

As a Pack fan, I would love to say its a great get. But the chances of taking a WR off another team’s practice squad and turning him into anything immediately productive other than on special teams is slim and none,….ooh looks like slim just left.

Harper will be an asset – Packers understand player development and for the post-season when GB is completes it assault on the rest of the NFC and has to play the second and third best teams – the Seadorks and Whiners.

Well, after last week’s game, the Packers had two healthy WRs on their 53 man roster. So, yea, there’s some desperation there. Promoting Myles White game them three WRs, but they definitely needed a fourth.

I don’t know anything about this kid, but you can be assured that Ted Thompson did his due diligence when scouring for available WRs. This kid may not be ready to roll this week, but he’ll likely be able to contribute this season better than most other available receivers.

He was on the 53 man roster, that’s why they had to release him, they didn’t cut him from the practice squad.

Jordy and him are tight and workout together a lot so hopefully that will help with his development having a veteran friend at the same position. The dude is crazy talented and has great measurables, his athletic ability has held him back because in college both Oregon and k-state moved him around to different positions all the time including QB just trying to find a way to get the ball in his hands so he doesn’t have much experience or coaching as a WR.

He’s a good fit for GB, they’ve had a lot of success with Cobb and Jordy, both guys who played other positions in college for some of their career and turned them into good NFL WRs, maybe they can do the same with Harper.